Article Title

Authors

Orginal Publication Date

2005

Journal Title

Ethnic Studies Review

Volume

28

Issue

esr/vol28/iss1

First Page

79

Last Page

80

Comments

Challenges of Identity Formation

Abstract

Merging world-systems and postcolonial analyses, Grosfoguel presents an insightful look at Puerto Rico's colonial status and its consequences on the Puerto Rican migration experience while comparing these experiences to those of other Caribbean migrants. While asserting that "world-system theorists have difficulties theorizing culture, whereas postcolonial theorists have difficulties conceptualizing political-economic processes" (13), Grosfoguel challenges scholars of the modern world-system to move from paradigms of earlier centuries and go outside their disciplines in order to reduce the risk of reductionism. The analysis is grounded on "Bourdieu's concept of "symbolic capital" and Quijano's notion of "coloniality of power [to] redress these limitations" (3).